Fluid coupling



Feb; 6, 1945. R. J. MILLER 2,368,996 7 FLUID COUPLING Filed April 5,1941 s Sheets-$111291. k2

INVENTOR. ,mwazvo JM/uzrei ATTORNEY R; J. MILLER FLUID COUPLING Feb. 6,.1945

Filed Ap ril 5, 19:41 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. I BY Ear/vow: J/V/LLEeQ a; z m

rrae/vsy Patented Feb. 6, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLUIDCOUPLING Raymond J. Miller, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Hydraulic BrakeCompany, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of California Application April5, 1941, Serial No. 387,096

. 1 Claim.

hibiting seepage of fluid from the housing, and splined to the end ofthe sleeve, extended through the hub, is a clutch member 32.

Spaced pin bearings 34 and 36 inthe sleeve 26 support for rotation adriven shaft 38, and a retaining ring 40 sleeved on the driven shaft andcoupling having a plurality of fluid circuits so arranged as to provideminimum slippage during initial operation, to the end that at the startof a dead load the movement may be smoothed out.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fluid coupling includingan impeller and a runner, and compound cooperative shrouds on the impeller and runner for directing the flow of fluid in the unit inprogressive circuits.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fluid coupling includingan impeller, a runner associated therewith, and compound cooperativeshrouds carried by the impeller and the runner graduated in size fromthe axis of the unit to the circumference thereof so as to provide aplurality of fluid circuits of varied lengths effective to successivelycomplete the circulation of fluid in the respective circuits, andthereafter maintain the circulation of the fluid in the circuits inphase.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from thefollowing description taken in connection with the drawings forming apart of this specification, and in which,

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a fluid coupling embodying theinvention;

Fig. 2 is a front view-of the impeller, partly broken away;

Fig. 3 is a front view of the runner, partly broken away; and

tails of the invention, l0 'represents a driving' threaded in the sleeve24 serves to retain the clutch member 32 against displacement. Thedriven shaft 38 extends through a sleeve 42 on a transmission housing;not shown, and is supported on a suitable bearing, also not shown, andsplined to the driven shaft is a clutch member 46 for cooperation withthe clutch member 32.

An impel1er,indicated generally at 48, includes an outer shroud 48suitably secured to the inner wall of the housing 12, a plurality ofspaced blades 50 mounted thereon, and shrouds 52 and shaft, and ahousing I2 is supported on the shaft.

- As shown, the housing has a concentrically dis-- posed hub l4suitably, secured to the drivin shaft ,II, and an oppositely disposedhub Hi. The hub thereon adjacent its Journaled end a circumferentialflange 28, and interposed between the flange and the hub I6 is a fluidseal to for in 56 supported on the blades.

The shrouds 52 and 54 are arranged in substantially parallel spacedrelation to one another and to the perimeter of the outer shroud 48. Theshroud 52 is narrow and arcuate in cross-section. It is spaced from thecenter of the edge of the blades, and has a small radius, and the shroud5A is relatively wider and also arcuate in crosssection. It is betweenthe shroud 52 and the iner perimeter of the outer shroud 48, and thus isfarther removed from the center of the edges of the blades.

A runner, indicated generally at 56, includes an outer shroud 58 securedto the flange 28 on the rotatable sleeve 24 and braced as by a heavyring 60, and equi-spaced vanes 62 mounted on the outer shroud supportirmer shrouds 64, 66 and 68. The shrouds are arcuate in cross-sec tion,and are graduated in width from approximately the center of the edges ofthe blades toward the inner periphery of the outer shroud. They arearranged in spaced relation to one another and to the outer shroud. Theshrouds 66 and 68 are coextensive with the shrouds 52 and 54 of theimpeller, and are contiguous with one another, and the shroud 64 iscontiguous with the shroud 66 and with a narrow section 10 extended fromits entrance edge in a plane complementary to the edges of the vanes andterminating in 'a deflecting section or ring I2.

The arrangement of the shrouds on the impeller and the runner is such asto provide in conjunction with one another fluid circuits 14, I6, and18. The circuits H and 16 have closed or dead ends, and the circuit 18is continuous.

In a normal operation, assuming that the housing I2 is filled with a.suitable fluid to a predetermined degree of it capacity, upon initie]rotation of the housing by force received from the shaft III, the fluidin the housing is energized by the impeller 46 and centrifugal forceresulting from rotation of the housing. These forces result in movementof the fluid in the direction indicated by the arrows in Fig. 4.

As the speed of rotation of the housing and impeller increases, thefluid is further energized and begins to move through the fluid circuits14, I6, and 18, as indicated by the long arrows in ,Fig. 5, and,concomitantly therewith, fluid is beginning to move from the runner tothe impeller, due to vacuum; as indicated by dotted arrows, and also thefluid in the runner is energized by centrifugal force, as indicated byshort arrows As the speed of the housing and the impeller fluid by theimpeller and the centrifugal force proportionately increases, and thisresults in further movement of the fluid in the fluid circuits. At thisstage, the fluid in the circuit '14 completes its cycle, as indicated bythe arrows in Fig. 6, and the energy thereof is received by the runner.The reception of the energy by the runner is gradual, due to a smallamount of slip, found very desirable at the start of a dead load, sincesuch action tends to smooth the motion.

Upon further increase of speed of rotation, the fluid in the circuit 16completes its cycle, as indicated by arrows in Fig. 'l. The circulationof fluid in the circuits M and 16 is now in unison, and during thisstage the fluid in the circuit 18 is meeting and mingling with fluid inthe runner moving under the influence of centrifugal force. This resultsin increase of speed of rotation of the runner.

As the speed of rotation further increases, the

v-fluid in the circuit 18 completes its cycle, and

.the principle involved is susceptible of numerous other applicationsthat will readily occur to persons skilled in the art. The invention is,therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the appendedclaim.

Having thus described the various features of the invention, what Iclaim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- A fluidcouplingcomprising a driving member and a driven member providing in conjunctionwith one another a vortex chamber, and a plurality of nested shrouds oneach of the members, the shrouds on one member cooperating with theshrouds on the other member to provide a main power trainer-hittingfluid circuit and a plurality of power transmitting fluid circuitsnested within the main circuit the shrouds on the driving member beingopen to the main circuit and the cooperating shrouds on the drivenmember being closed to the main circuit remote from the inlets of thedriven member.

RAYMOND J. MILLER.

